In October jurors found Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke guilty of second-degree murder of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. He was also found guilty of all 16 counts of aggravated battery, but acquitted of official misconduct.
Van Dyke returns to the courtroom today seeking a new trial. The defense is challenging most major rulings Judge Vincent Gaughan made before and during the trial including the judge’s refusal to move the trial out of Cook County.
Dash-cam footage of the incident was released in 2015, and sparked protests. Be warned: It’s graphic.
This footage heightened an ongoing national debate on the brutalization of people of color, especially black men, by police. McDonald was African-American. Van Dyke is white.
Today’s hearing is scheduled to begin at 9am CST/10am EST.
